'There is space, time for diplomatic solution on Iran'

The Obama administration believes there is time and space for a diplomatic solution to the "world's concerns" about Iran's development of nuclear weapons if it engages in "constructive behaviour", the White House said.

"There is time and space here for a diplomatic solution... if Iran chooses to engage in constructive behaviour," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters, responding to a question on Iran writing a letter to the European Union, expressing willingness to talk on nuclear weapons' issue.

"We're reviewing the letter," Carney said.

"We have certainly noted in the past that the Iranians needed to respond to that letter. So they have. But I don't want to make any qualitative judgements about their response at this time."

Carney said if Iran chooses a path of "honouring its international obligations and working with the international community to remove the world's concerns about its development of a nuclear weapons program", then there is an opportunity for Iran to work its way out of the corner that its behaviour has led them into.